Automatic train pipe coupling



May 19, 1931. G. w. RUMMEL AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE COUPLING Filed Sept. 20

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GEORGE \NRUMMEL ATTORNEY R O T N E V m Patented May 19, 1931 I UNITED STA ES PA T {OFFICE enonen w. RUMMEf, or swrssvnnn, PENNSYLVANIA, AssIeNon'ro THE WESTING- 'nousn AIR BRAKEVCOMPANY, on: wr MnnmNe; PENNSYLVANIA, A oonronArIo I or .IEENNSYINANIA Application filed September 20, 1928. Serial by means of slidably mounted latch members. a e Another object of the invention is to provide a train pipe Coupling of-the character mentioned which is simple in construction, and, reliable and exact in function under all conditions of service. r

i The invention also comprises certain new v and useful improvements in the construction,

arrangement and combinationof the several parts of, which-it is'composed, as willbe hereinafter more fullydescribed and claimed.

In the accompanying figure is a plan view, partly in section, ot-a trainjpipev coupling embodying the invention, showingthe same operatively connected to a counterpart coupling. 3

Train pipe couplingsof the type -known asthe tight or rigid lock coupling,-are shown for example, inthe Westinghouse Patent No. 708,747, dated September 9, 1902, and in "which each coupling head is provided with a laterally projecting hook-shaped portion adapted to engage the corresponding portion of a counterpart coupling by a relative lat- "eral movement, and be rigidly locked to- 'ether. by cam levers or .latches,'fone pivoted upon each coupling head and bearing against the other counterpart coupling head. Train pipe-passages are formed; in the coupling heads. and are provided with gaskets. adapted to abut against corresponding gasketsfof the to separate,

drawing,;the single" responding hook portlon of coupling The plane surface 5, isprovided with one [or more openings for train pipe sections 6 s which may be enclosed in a boss 7 formed as apart. of the coupling head. The forward AUTOMATIC TRAIN rIr-E CO PLI G v 7 counterpart coupling-headwh th tw w connected together.

VVhile' a coupling of the above type, will automatically couple with a counterpart coupling when two cars are .broughttogether, 1t 1s necessary to manually operate the 0am levers, when it is desired to uncouple, inorjder to; r-eleasethe'locking of the coupling heads and thus permit the-coupling heads when the cars are pulled apart.

' By the present invention the coupling head is provided withla slidably' mounted latch pinadapted to be automatically actuated to release the coupling when the cars are. being I uncoupled, as well as permita quick interlockoi the, coupling head with a. counterpart coupling when carsaare being coupled. v

[Referring to, thedrawing, the automatic train pipe coupling head 1- comprises. aprojecting nose 2 adapted to engage in a. recess ranged above and below a plane surface 5., the

,hooked portion of one coupling head being adapted to engage and interlock witha cora counterpart head, in the, manner show-n.

endof. each tram p1pe section is provided tight joint when the heads are The. head 1 is slidably mounted on a stem 9having its rear end provided with a hall .The for- 12 is formed at the rear end of the head.

,. Garriedbythe stem9. is a sleeve 13 having one end flange a ife abutting. the flange e5 3 of a counterpart coupling head. Thehead 1 is provided with hooked portions 4 arwith a gasket 8 adapted to engage the correv spending gasket on the otherfcoupling', and I make. a fluid coupled together.

sleeve.

12. The sleeve 13 is formed with diametrically disposed longitudinal slots 15 into which the projecting ends of a pin 16 passed through the stem 9 extend.

A coil spring 17 encircles the stem 9 and the sleeve 13, one end of the spring bearing against the flange 14, while the opposite end thereof bears against a collar 18 at the inner end of the stem.

For the purpose of locking the coupling head when the same has been coupled to a counterpart coupling head, the boss 7 is formed with a V-shaped notch 20 adapted to receive the correspondingly formed nose of a pin 21 carried by a counterpart coupling head.

The pin is slidably mounted in a sleeve 22 pivoted at 23 to the coupling head, the sleeve and pin being pressed outwardly by an expansible coil spring 24 mounted in a recess 25 formed in the head 1. For the purpose of limiting the outward movement of the pin 21 with respect to the sleeve 22, the pin is formed with a longitudinal slot 26 into which projects a stud 27 carried by the The inner end of the pin 21 is engaged by the stem of a plunger 28 mounted in a cylinder 29 carried by the boss 7, the plunger be ing forced outwardly by pressure exerted by an expansible coil spring 30.

In operation, when cars are brought together for coupling up, the projecting nose 2 of one train pipe coupling enters the recess 3 of the counterpart coupling. The hooked portions 4 of the two couplings become interlocked through the relative lateral and longitudinal movement and the plane faces 5 are juxtaposed, so that the train pipe openings therein are connected together.

The end of the boss 7 will engage the extremity of the pin 21 and swing the same outwardly therefrom on the pivot 23, thereby compressing the spring 24. The nose of the pin 21 slides along the surface of the boss and when the hooked portions 4 interlock, the

spring 24 forces the pin outwardly so that its nose enters the notch 20, the pin being also forced into the notch by the force exerted by spring 30 against plunger 29, thereby locking the two coupling heads tightly together. I

During the coupling operation the coupling head 1 will be moved rearwardly on the stem 9 to an intermediate position, as shown in the drawing, and the spring 17 will be compressed between the flange 14 and collar 18 which are brought closer together.

WVhen coupled cars are separated, the interlocked coupling heads 1 will be pulled outwardly on the stems 9 until further longitudinal movement is prevented by the pins 16 engaging the ends of the slots 15. When further outward movement of the heads relative to the stems is thus prevented, the continued pull will disengage the interlocked hooked portions 4 and the noses 2 will be with drawn from the recesses 3.

When the heads commence to part, the boss 7 of one coupling head will force the pin 21 of the counterpart coupling head inwardly of its sleeve 22, thereby forcing the plunger 28 inwardly of the cylinder 29 and compressing the spring 30. In this way, the pin 21 will be disengaged from the notch 20, thereby permitting an unrestricted separation of the parts, immediately following the withdrawal of the nose 2 from the recess 3 the spring 80 will expand and in so doing it will return the pin 21 to its normal extended position ready for coupling up.

WVhile one illustrative embodiment of the invention has been described in detail, it is not my intention to limit its scope to that embodiment or otherwise than by the terms of the appended claims.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent,-is j 1. The combination with atrain pipe coupling adapted to automatically couple with a counterpart coupling and having a nose adapted to engage a recess formed in the counterpart coupling, a pivotally mounted sleeve, a pin slidably mounted in the sleeve, and a spring pressed plunger for projecting the pin into engagement with the nose of a counterpart coupling and lock the same in coupled position. I

2. The combination with a train pipe coupling adapted to automatically couple with a counterpart coupling and having a nose adapted to engage a recess formed in the counterpart coupling and a notch formed in said nose, of means for locking the coupling in coupled position comprising a sleeve hinged to the coupling for movement laterally thereof, and a pin mounted in the sleeve for movement longitudinally thereof, said pin being adapted to engage in the notch of the counterpart coupling when the couplings are brought together for coupling up;

3. The combination with-a train pipe coupling adapted to automatically couple with a counterpart coupling and having a nose adapted to engage a recess formed in the counterpart coupling and a notch formed in said nose, of means for locking the coupling in coupled position comprising a sleeve hinged to the coupling for movement laterally thereof, a pin mounted in the sleeve for movement longitudinally thereof, and means acting on the sleeve for normally maintaining the pin in the path of the nose of the counterpart coupling.

' 4. The combination with-a train pipe coupling adapted to automatically couple with a counterpart coupling and having a nose adapted toengage a recess formed in the counterpart coupling and a notch formed in said nose, of means for locking the coupling in coupled position comprising a sleeve hinged to the coupling ally thereof, a pin mounted inthe sleeve for movement longltudinally thereof, a springacting on the sleeve for normally maintaining the same in extended position, 'and a projecting the springs pressed plunger for pin into engagement with the notch of the counterpart coupling.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, this 18th day of September, 1928.

GEORGE W. RUMMEL.

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